Max's POV

I sat in the white room with my eyes closed, head leaning against the wall. I ignored the constant rambling of the Whitecoats on the other side of the room and instead focused on why I was here. I have to protect my family.

"Subject 00034, please come with me."

I opened my eyes and stood slowly, still focused on why I was here. It kept my mind off of…other things. Like the daily experiments. And being betrayed by the ones I love.

I brushed past the Whitecoat and out the door, not bothering to try and fight. As long as I behaved, they stayed alive. They were all I had left and I would do everything in my power to make sure that they were alright. Even if it meant putting myself through eternal torture.

When we got to my room, the Whitecoat opened the door and shoved me in. Hard. I hit the floor with a thud and glared at him, but he was already shutting the door. I sighed and turned, knowing the procedure. I walked past the empty cages that littered the walls and stopped at the three in the back of the room. This room was just for my family. They never put anyone else in here.

The three cages were set side-by-side in the back corner. The first held a thin, blonde girl with curly hair that had once been short but had grown out over the years. Bright blue eyes blinked up at me in sympathy. I gave her a reassuring smile before turning to the cage on the right.

Two small figures huddled together. The first was a boy with black hair that seemed to absorb the darkness and brown eyes, just like mine. He was no more than five years old, and held the smaller child tightly in his arms. The little girl clutched her brother and blinked up at me with dark, obsidian eyes. Her raven hair was just past her shoulders and silky to the touch.

"Mama?" She said, pulling away from him and pressing her face against the cage.

I climbed into the cage in the middle and shut the door, turning the lock. Now only a Whitecoat could get me out. I turned back to the two figures.

"Raven." I took her hand in mine through the bars and gave her a slight smile. Turning to her brother, I raised an eyebrow. "Did you take care of your sister, River?"

He nodded and looked at me with a worried expression. "I-I heard you screaming again Mom. You've been gone for almost two days this time. What is happening out there?"

I shook my head and waved off his question. "You guys are safe. That's all that matters. Now go to sleep. You look exhausted."

They hesitantly complied and laid down in their cage, closing their eyes. I turned to Angel. "How long has it been?"

She looked down. "Six years since they kidnapped us from the others. Four years since we escaped the first time. Two years since they found us again. Still no word of the flock."

I looked away and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the tears to back down. It had been six years since we had seen the others. They hadn't even tried to break us out. We had given up hope after being here a year. When we escaped the first time, we stayed in a place that the Whitecoats couldn't find us, but as soon as we left to go on a little vaca…BAM! Back in the school. I couldn't even afford to think about that place. Not while I was here.

But no matter how much they had betrayed me…even if they didn't even remember who I was…they were still my family. All I could do was pray to whoever watched over us that they were safe. I loved them after all. I loved him.

THEN LEAVE!

The last words he had said to me still rang in my ears. By now, Angel and the kids had fallen asleep, leaving room for me to shed a few tears. It had been the day before our birthdays. We were going to throw a party to celebrate. In fact, my gift to them was the best that I could hope to give. It had taken a lot of time and money…but I had never been able to share it with them.

"P-Paris?" I stuttered. I had come here to tell him that I was pregnant, but he had brought up this subject before I could.

Fang nodded. "That's what they want."

"But…" I trailed off. If we went to Paris then I wouldn't be able to give them their gift in time. Couldn't the trip wait?

"But what Max?" He asked cautiously.

"I…I don't think that's a good idea."

I didn't want to think of the details, but my brain mentally skipped past the beginning of the fight and stopped at the end.

"You raised them that way, Max!" He shouted. This was not going the way I had planned.

"Exactly, Fang! I raised them! Since I was twelve! Do you know how much pressure that put on a preteen? I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

"THEN LEAVE!"

Even now, six years later, his words still bring tears to my eyes. After he said that I had pulled a very Max-like stunt. I took off, flying a few miles until I was far enough away that I could cry freely without having to be strong for the others. I had meant what I said. I couldn't take it anymore. The running, the fighting. It was all too much to bear. But I never wanted to leave them. That's why I had built that place. A place where we could be free. A home.

Angel had followed me, just to make sure I was alright. We had talked for a bit. It was nice being able to talk like we used to. Even after all those years, she was still my little girl. My Angel. When we had been ready to head back, we had taken off. However, we were met mid-flight by a pack of flying Erasers. Without the rest of the flock, they had overpowered us.

They had raised defenses, so it had been almost impossible to escape. I hadn't helped that I was pregnant. My babies ended up being born in the school. I had begged and pleaded to the Whitecoats, and we had a sort of arrangement. I did whatever they asked-without question-as long as they didn't do anything to my kids or to Angel. No experiments, no training exercises, nothing. To make up for the lost research, they tripled my torture. But it was worth it, as long as my remaining family was safe.

For now, at least.